Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 7) — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday urged the government to take appropriate actions to mitigate the rising cost of rice.
The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. has said the country should secure more supply of rice as it expects the price of the commodity to increase by as much as ₱4 per kilogram amid tight supply in the global market.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, Cayetano said it is important for Malacañang to send a strong message to rice smugglers, like the use of “very, very strong language” by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his second State of the Nation Address.
Cayetano was referring to the warning issued by the chief executive to smugglers that their days are numbered. He also noted the action being done by the Department of Justice against the smuggling syndicates.
The senator said the government also needs to have other contingency plans, aside from rolling out Kadiwa stores which are not really available in many areas across the country.
Cayetano also said the department’s budget should be used to help farmers procure the latest farming equipment.
“Kailangan talaga (We really need) complete modernization. We have to completely change…the way we think about agriculture,” he said.
The senator also urged authorities to provide immediate assistance to farmers this coming planting season.
